defrocked monk

[Paul Mackin]

The sad burning of the Venice opera house, La Fenice, a few
days ago has a slight Pynchonian angle. Could P. be an opera-
lover (or more likely a V- (for Venice) lover) in his naming of that
"long defrocked monk named Fenice?"  That gentleman is the friend of
Stencil with whom he, Profane and Paola stay when their car breaks 
down on the mad dash across Italy (headed for Valletta) in the closing
pages of V. (p. 444). 

V. seems to rise from her own ashes periodically. Let's
hope La Fenice continues in that same tradition she started so many
years ago.

Just happened to have reached that point in the book.

					P.